Steam pump



Aug. 7, 1945. P. A. MCCORMICK 2 ,381,298

STEAM PUMP Filed De c. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet i Inventor Y .PauZAA/Uarmzib r arm #4405 3 M "Au .7,194s. P. A. MOQORMICK- 2,381,298

STEAM PUMP Filed Dec. 21. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Qwaoifia Aug. 7, 1945. P. A. M CORMICK 2,381,298

- STEAM PUMP I Filed Dec. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V C v 2a L7/ 5 2 I 23 22 =33 v J2 Inventor f l7 fi lflfif''armwk I a z /s' 5 //w WWW 7," i1-945. P. A.-MQCORMICK 2,381,298

STEAM PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Paul/i J/Z'armfak Q and Filed Dec, 21, 1945 Patented Aug. 7 1945 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM PUMP Paul A. McCormick, San Diego, Calif. Application December 21, 1943, Serial No. 515,169

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in steam pumps, and has for its primary object to provide a power plant of this type comprising a unique combination and arrangement for transmitting power to any suitable point through the medium of a suitable fluid.

mounted on the rod ,1 for reciprocation in the cylinder 6. A valve 9' of the sliding box type is provided for the cylinder 6. A line I connects the valve 9 to a steam boiler.

Projecting forwardly from the upper portion of the cylinder 6 is a bracket II. A lever I2 is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, for

Another very important object of the invention g is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character which embodies novel means for automatically controlling or regulating the power ,.which is transmitted therefrom.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a power plant of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction,

strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in vertical swinging movement on the bracket The upper end portion of the lever I2 is operatively connected to the rod I3 for actuating the valve 9.. The lower end' portion of the lever |2 is engageable by spaced pins l4 on the piston rod use and operation, compact, and which maybe manufactured and installed at low cost.

. All of-the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

' Figure l is a top plan view of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 22 of Figure 1.v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line. 3-3 of v Figure 1. 4 Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in cross sec-" tion, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the regulating cylin- Fi'gure 6 is a detail view in cross section, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 2. v

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 'l--| of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a. detail view in side elevation of one of the valve operating links.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which'has beenillustrated comprises a base of suitable dimensions and material. The base includes a-raised or elevated forward endpo'rtion 2. Suitable supports 3 are provided beneath i thebase I. Guides 4 rise from the sides of the base I. Mounted on the rear end portion of the base is a steam engine. 5." The engine 5 comprises a horizontal cylinder .6 through the forward end of which a slidable-rod T extends. A piston 8 is I. for actuation by said piston rod.

- Mounted longitudinally on the forward end portion 2 of the base is a series of fluid pumps 5. The pumps l5 include cylinders l6 having mounted therein reciprocating pistons II. Theprovided for'the cylinders I6 of the pumps L5.

The rods 22 of the valves 2| are connected to a transverse line shaft 23 which, in turn, is connected by a rod 24 to the leverf|2 for actuation thereby.

The outlets 25 of the valves 2| are connected to multi-way valves 26. A fluid pressure line 21,

to any suitable point at which the power is to be used, is connected to the valves 26 by means including a manifold 28 and branches 23. A fluid return line 30 is connected to the intakes of the valves 2| through the medium ofa mani fold 3| and branches 32. Branches 33 also connect themanifold 3| to the valves 26. A manually adjustable back pressure regulating valve 34 is interposed in the fluid return line 30.

Mounted beneath the base I are pairs of opposed cylinders 35 and 36, the former being smaller than the latter and, further, being of different sizes, as illustrated to advantage in Figure -5 ofthe drawings. The pressure line 21 is also connected to the cylinders 35, as at 31. Lines 33 connect the cylinders 36 to the steam boiler. Pistonsil! and 4|! in the cylinders 35 and 36, re- .spectively, are connected by a rod 4 Brackets 42 are mounted on the valves 26. Pivotally mounted on the brackets "42 are bell crank I levers 43.

Links 44 connect the bell crank levers 43 tothe'pi'ston rods 4|. for actuating the valves 26. Pin and-slot connections 45 permit limited movement of the pistons 39 andindependently follows: I

nected to the water line 49 to the boiler.

Briefly, the operation of the apparatus is' as Steam from the boiler actuates the engine in the usual manner. The engine 5, in turn, actuates the fluid pumps I5 through the rod I, the

shaft l9, the rods l8, et cetera. The lever I2 is periodically actuated by the pins l4 on the rod l for operating the valve 9 and the water injector 46, with the valves 26 in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the line 21 is in communication with the outlets of the pumps and fluid under pressure is delivered to the desired point, such, for example, as one or more rotary motors or turbines. cylinders l6 of the pumps l5 through the line 30. Fluid pressure from the line 21 urges the pistons 39 rearwardly in the cylinders 35, which movement is resisted at all times by the full pressure of steam from the boiler in the cylinders 35 acting on the pistons 40. However, when a predetermined pressure in the line 21 is passed, the pistons 39 are actuated thereby until arrested by engagement of the pistons 49 with the closed rear ends of the cylinders 36. In this manner, the valves 25 are actuated for disconnecting the pressure line 21 from the outlets of the pumps l5 and for connecting the return line 39 to said outlets through the manifold 3| and the branches 33. When this occurs, the pumps 15 are cut out of the fluid circuit. The different sizes of the cylinders 35 and the pistons 39 therein governs the order in which the pumps i5 are cut out. That is, the cylinders 35, from the largest to the smallest thereof,-successively cut out the respective pumps connected thereto. From the foregoing it will be seen that the load on the steam engine 5 is automatically regulated to meet various conditions. The links 44' are operable in slots 5| which are provided therefor in the base I.

Ordinarily, there would be a slight sag or lowering of pressure in the line 21 each time the pistons l1 in the cylinders it reached the ends of their strokes. However, this is prevented, or sub- This fluid returns to the stantially prevented, by the steam from the boiler moving the pistons 39 forwardly in their cylinders through the medium of the pistons and the rods 4|. The pin and slot connections permit pulsation of the mechanism without actuating the valves 26. The valve 34 functions as a brake. By closing this valve34, back pressure is created against the rotary motor or other device which is being driven.

It is believed that the many advantages of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a steam engine mounted on the supporting structur and adapted for connection with'a steam boiler, a fluid pump mounted on the supporting structure "and having an inlet and an outlet, said steam engine and said pump having pistons operatively connected with each other for simultaneous movement, a multi-way valve having a main casing communieating with the outlet of the pump and an auxiliary casingcommunicating with its main casin a fluid pressure line communicating with the auxiliary casing of said valve, a fluid return line communicating with the auxiliary casing of the valve and with the inlet of the pump, a valve member slidable in said auxiliary easing into and out of position for alternately blocking said lines and having a stem protruding from the auxiliary casing, operating means for said valve member including a lever having one end pivoted to the outer end of the valve stem, opposed cylinders in spaced longitudinal alignment with each other and connected one with the boiler and the other with the pressure line, pistons in the opposed cylinders connected by a rod having a portion exposed between spaced ends of the cylinders, and a link having one end pivoted to the other end of said lever and its other end pivotallyconnected with the exposed portion of the rod.

4 PAUL A; MCCORMICK. 

